It was almost as if it was expected the swans would fold last night after going in to a three goal lead. For the second time in eight days the defence went awol and brought about its own problems when attempting to hold on for a win.

That said the issues are very clear, the personnel on the bench are not good enough to fulfil any role within the team. That’s the first issue and despite his critics it’s clear Russell Martin wanted the same energy and desire his team showed in the first half in the second. But when it came down to it the fitness wasn’t there, and when the changes were made the ability wasn’t there either.

It’s ‘sort of’ acceptable now for this to happen if the process and journey Russell Martin is on comes to fruition next season. But next season these things cannot happen. This is a time for learning. Many commentators on the game see Swansea as a force for the next campaign. We have also seen the outright bloody mindedness of Russell Martin who is determined to do this his way. That’s been a criticism this season but it is bearing fruit, no doubt. Once again the first sixty minutes or so of the game was stunning, then the team folded and that was from tiredness, and then of course the aforementioned lack of personnel on the bench.

That didn’t prevent Russell Martin from picking out the positives and contesting the fact that Kieffer Moore shouldn't have been on the pitch at all when he scored. "I'm really proud of the players. For 50 or 55 minutes, I thought they were brilliant. So brave, they caused all sorts of problems for Bournemouth in the first-half in particular," he said. "They had moments in the first half, but you expect that with the squad they have. "I have nothing but praise for the players for how they were. We get the third goal, they make changes. Ben Cabango coming off is a massive moment for us. We had probably the smallest back three playing against the biggest front three players. They take our most dominant player out aerially, and then it's some key moments really”

Of course Moore should have walked for his elbow in to the face of the Flynn Downes. How it was missed by three officials looking straight at it is definitely open to question. Bournemouth manager Scott Parker was relentless in his verbal attacks on the fourth official, at times he looked terrified, and that also changed the game. Moore should have been sent off. Martin wasn’t impressed either talking about the first goal. “The ball should get played back to Andy Fisher we don't, we dally on it and they score. The penalty is a tough one to take. Kieffer Moore should get sent off in the seventy third minute. I don't like moaning about refereeing decisions, but he's elbowed Flynn. Bournemouth threw everything at it, they just risked it all. When we did have the chance to play, the detail wasn't quite there. The third goal, it's a push on Flynn. These are just clear decisions. We should win the game at 3-0 up. But it's a different feeling to Reading, it's not a mentality problem, we're playing a team who are where they are in the league, fighting for everything."

Andy Fisher pulled off four excellent saves, and yes was responsible to an extent for staying on his line when Moore scored with a header, however he showed huge signs of improvement again. Coming for crosses has been an issue but he was accomplished last night. That lack of determination in key areas he does need to work on though.

There has been issues in this superb nine game unbeaten run, every side faced from Good Friday onwards has had something to scrap for. That’s no excuse, the draws the swans have gained in three cases should have been wins, and for argument sake most certainly in two cases. Last night and at Reading. However the sixty point barrier is behind Swansea City. And despite the criticism Martin will almost certainly get for losing another three goal lead it’s positives all the way once that defence is sorted out in the summer.

See you at Nottingham Forest.

Swansea City: Fisher; Cabango (Smith 49), Naughton, Latibeaudiere; Christie, Downes, Grimes (C), Manning; Piroe (Joseph 90+7), Wolf (Fulton 82); Obafemi.

Subs not used: Hamer, Ogbeta, Cotterill, Congreve.

Goals: Piroe 6 & 12, Christie 58

Yellow cards: Christie 45+3, Smith 53, Billing 75

Bournemouth: Travers; Laird, Phillips, Kelly (C), Smith (Billing 46); Cook, Lerma; Christie (Brady 65), Anthony, Lowe (Moore 62); Solanke.

Subs not used: Woodman, Mepham, Pearson, Dembele.

Goals: Moore 72 & 90, Solanke 81

Yellow cards: Lowe 29, Anthony 56, Phillips 67, Lerma 84, Solanke 90+6

Referee: Darren Bond ‘Graded as hopeless’

Attendance: 17,780

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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